Sunday, September 23, 2012

The Blooded Boarder War

The Sacking
of Osceola occurred in Osceola, Missouri September 23rd 1861, when a
group of Union Kansas “Jayhawkers” burned the town and killed some of the
citizens.

Following
the Battle of Wilson’s Creek Confederate Major General Sterling Price, began to
move to take back the state of Missouri.Union General James Henry Lane organized troops to fight against this
invasion, but Price defeated him at the Battle of Dry Wood Creek.Lane retreated and Price continued to move
forward.

Lane was
down, but he wasn’t beaten.He crossed
into Missouri on September 10th 1861, and began moving east.On September 23rd 1861 the Union
force moved into the town of Osceola, Missouri a town with a population of
around 2,500, driving a small number of Confederates out of the town. Lane’s
men then looted and burnt the town, leaving only three buildings standing.It was reported that Lane’s men removed 350
horse, 400 cattle, and 3,000 bags of flour as well carriages and wagons to
carry their plunder.Nine local men were
quickly court-martialed and executed.